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Copyrightlaws.com is the place for copyright education. Online eTutorials and Certificate programs to demystify copyright law.

Copyright + Licensing Courses

Copyrightlaws.com: Providing copyright law education for the non-lawyer.

Copyrightlaws.com offers online, e-tutorials, webinars, and in-person training. The training is developed and led by copyright lawyer and author Lesley Ellen Harris and provides a balanced non-biased view on copyright and licensing.

The training has a practical approach teaching participants to manage their own copyright and licensing issues and ensure copyright compliance. There are a variety of training/courses from self-paced to e-tutorial lessons to interactive and assignment-based.

See below for our current offerings to help you protect content + reduce risk. eLearning consists of eTutorials, webinar courses and self-study courses. Sign up for our email newsletter for upcoming sessions that apply to you.

“The course materials are remarkably free of legal or technical jargon, and are therefore eminently readable and easy to absorb. Even court cases are used sparingly, and only when they help to clarify a point…aims to achieve a balance between explaining the law and giving enough detail in order to also be able to understand the intricacies of the existing law.”

June 2015

One-day, onsite course held at the SLA Annual Conference in Boston, Massachusetts. Covers managing the use of copyright-related issues in libraries and organizations. Practical and hands-on – learn how to comply with copyright law. Receive credit towards the Certificate in Copyright Management. Offered in conjunction with Special Libraries Association (SLA) June 12, 2015.

September 2015

A 4-week e-course that offers guidance in developing a copyright education plan, assessing materials, content, and technology in order to equip an instruction team for your institution, and so much more. Following copyright best practices can protect your institution from cease-and-desist letters, time-draining threats, and lawsuits. The first step is to develop an effective and practical copyright education plan. This e-course provides just that. Offered in conjunction with the American Library Association. August 31–September 15, 2015.

A 16 e-lesson eTutorial course which is a primer/refresher on Canadian copyright law. Includes information on recent amendments to the Canadian Copyright Act and June 2012 Supreme Court of Canada court decisions. Each eTutorial has a text lecture, further resources and a self-marking quiz. Syllabus. Register. September 16 –October 7, 2015.

October 2015

Four self-study modules including online discussions with colleagues and instructor/moderator. Are you the GO TO person for copyright law and licensing issues in your library? This Moodle-based course will inform you about the copyright librarian’s responsibilities and how to gain the confidence to be that copyright specialist. Offered in conjunction with the American Library Association. October 5 – October 30, 2015.

The 8 eTutorials in this course will lead you through the process of developing a Copyright Policy or Guidelines. Complete the assignments and at the end of the course you will have a draft Copyright Policy or Guidelines in hand. Syllabus. Register. October 14 – 30, 2015.

This online course covers principles in Canadian copyright law, including the Canadian Copyright Act, the Copyright Modernization Act and important court cases. Learn the criteria for copyright protection (e.g., originality and fixation), what works are protected, how to protect copyrighted works and more. Register. September 24 – October 12, 2015.

November 2015

This eTutorial discusses issues in U.S. copyright law that are important and relevant to Canadians. The eTutorial consists of 4 e-lessons and a comprehensive self-marking quiz. Learn the essentials of U.S. copyright law in one week. Syllabus. Register. November 12 – 18, 2015.

January 2016

This course, offered online in January, is an introduction to the principles of copyright law shared around the world, and how to manage copyright and licensing issues faced on a day-to-day basis in our global marketplace. It also sets the groundwork for those enrolled in the Certificate in Copyright Management program. Register. Live Online Course: January 19 – February 1, 2016.

February 2016

This online course covers the principles of U.S. copyright law, including the U.S. Copyright Act and court cases. Learn the background and composition of U.S. Copyright Law along with the criteria for copyright protection, what works are protected, how to protect copyright works (e.g., registration and copyright notice requirements) ownership, and more. Register. February 8 – 22, 2016.

March 2016

This on-demand course is comprised of self-study materials including voiced-over slides, readings, written assignments, and an end-of-course assessment (10-question multiple choice quiz). All coursework must be completed within one calendar month. Register.

This online course is a primer on copyright and licensing principles that are of specific interest to authors and publishers. We will explore the relevant copyright and licensing issues for content creators and distributors, and you will learn how to protect and distribute your content domestically and around the world. Register. March 7 – 21, 2016.

April 2016

This course offered on demand in April, is an introduction to the principles of copyright law shared around the world, and how to manage copyright and licensing issues faced on a day-to-day basis in our global marketplace. It also sets the groundwork for those enrolled in the Certificate in Copyright Management program. Register. April 1 – 30, 2016.

This online course covers copyright issues specifically for libraries and information centers of all kinds. We will also examine copyright issues that directly relate to the work of special librarians and information professionals. Register. April 4 – 18, 2016.

This onsite course covers issues in managing the use of copyright-protected materials. Topics include the meaning of “managing” the use of copyright-protected materials, how to avoid copyright infringement lawsuits, copyright risk management and more. Register. Philadelphia, June 11th. Boston, June 12th.